STROKE INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY RATES FOUND TO BE HIGHER IN DEVELOPING THAN IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR FIRST TIME
STROKE INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY RATES FOUND TO BE HIGHER IN DEVELOPING THAN IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR FIRST TIME
New Data the World Congress of Cardiology
BEIJING, 19 JUNE 2010. There is evidence that stroke incidence rates in developing countries have increased by more than 100 per cent during the last four decades, while they have decreased by 42 per cent in developed countries over the same time period, according to new data presented today at the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) Scientific Sessions in Beijing, China.
Over a four-decade period, stroke incidence rates increased from 52 per 100,000 person-years (1970-1979) to 117 per 100,000 person-years (2000-2008) in developing countries. However, stroke incidence rates decreased significantly from 163 per 100,000 person-years (1970-1979) to 94 per 100,000 person-years (2000-2008) in developed countries. Moreover, the average early total stroke case-fatality was 27 per cent in developing countries (2000-2008) compared with 25 per cent in developed countries (2000-2008).
“The pattern of changes in stroke mortality rates are most likely to be attributable to changes in stoke incidence rates,” said Dr. Valery Feigin, Director, National Research Centre for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, AUT University, Auckland. “Urgent preventative measures need to be undertaken to halt this imminent stroke epidemic and to reverse the current alarming trend of ever increasing stroke burden in developing countries.”
All available population-based stroke incidence studies in developing countries published between 1970-2008 were reviewed as part of this study.
About the World Congress of Cardiology
The World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions is the official congress of the World Heart Federation and is held every two years. Through the Congress the World Heart Federation offers an international stage for the latest developments in science and public outreach in the field of cardiovascular health. The World Congress of Cardiology places emphasis on the complementary nature of science and public outreach and strives to spread the message that through individual, community and patient-care interventions, the growing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented. www.worldcardiocongress.org
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation is dedicated to leading the global fight against heart disease and stroke with a focus on low- and middle-income countries via a united community of more than 200 member organizations. With its members, the World Heart Federation works to build global commitment to addressing cardiovascular health at the policy level, generates and exchanges ideas, shares best practice, advances scientific knowledge and promotes knowledge transfer to tackle cardiovascular disease – the world’s number one killer. It is a growing membership organization that brings together the strength of medical societies and heart foundations from more than 100 countries. Through our collective efforts we can help people all over the world to lead longer and better heart-healthy lives. For more information, please visit www.worldheart.org
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